Learning to Lament: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Group Lament Intervention

Lament, a structured form of Judeo-Christian prayer intended for use during times of hardship, has received limited empirical investigation despite theoretical support for its psychological benefits. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 6-week group-based program entitled Learning to Lament through a randomized controlled trial with 95 Protestant Christians experiencing ongoing distress from difficult life events. Participants were randomly assigned to either the lament intervention or an active comparator (Bible study on God's promises in suffering). Both groups showed significant increases in flourishing outcomes, including Christian flourishing, general flourishing, life satisfaction, positive affect, and adjustment to the stressor (based on linguistic analysis), and reductions in negative affect. While between-group differences were not statistically significant for self-report measures, linguistic analysis (LIWC) of participants' written narratives about their stressful experiences approached significance (Pillai's Trace p = .07; partial η² = .15), suggesting lament may be superior to the comparator in enhancing meaning-making processes. Participant satisfaction was high, with strong endorsement of the program's usefulness and effectiveness. This study provides the first RCT evidence that structured lament practices can improve well-being in distressed individuals. The comparable effectiveness of both interventions highlights the potential value of church-based programs as accessible mental health resources. The freely available Learning to Lament program offers a culturally embedded, lay-led intervention that can be implemented within existing Christian community structures to support individuals facing suffering.